The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, #1)(88)

He faced her, his long hair hanging limp. “Aye?” he whispered.

She could barely force the words out. “Where . . . where is Pax?”

He dropped his eyes, ashamed. “Gone. He has left.”

Aerity’s mind spun. “He’s alive?”

Tiern nodded. Aerity’s heart plumped with relief, only to sink again as she realized he’d truly left, just as he promised. Tiern glanced over at the celebrating men, and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Princess. It’s my fault. Pax should have had the kill. It was his, but he gave it to Lief. . . . He should have let me die.”

A chill of realization tingled down Aerity’s spine as she took in Tiern’s blood-soaked skin and trousers. Her head snapped up to Lord Alvi, midshore. Amid the animated talking, his blond head turned to her and met her eyes. His face was firm—the face of her husband to be. He gave her a nod of acknowledgment and turned his attention back to the men.

“No,” Aerity whispered. A deep longing for Paxton expanded within her. “Seas, no. Please.” Her stomach knotted so hard that it sent another shooting pain through her ribs.

Tiern pressed his face into his hands.

Just then voices from a second boat cast across the waters. Aerity heard her name being called. She looked up to see the Ascomannian hunters, the Zandalee, Harrison, and Wyneth. Her cousin was waving, her forehead scrunched with concern. The men on the boat burst into cheers and Wyneth followed their gazes to Lord Alvi, still holding the beast’s head at his side. The lord was watching the boat as it neared, but his eyes were hardly on his men. He slowly lowered the beast’s head. Wyneth tore her sight from him, focusing on Aerity instead. Harrison stared at Lief with a set jaw.

The princess allowed one pair of tears to fall before she wiped them away with the back of her sandy hand and swallowed hard. She had to be strong. This was a good thing for the people of their lands. She would keep telling herself that, and perhaps someday this feeling of dire regret would dissipate. Perhaps someday her own bitter disappointment would be swallowed up by all the good that would come from today’s events.

But for now, those things were still wholly present and alive within her.

When Wyneth’s boat touched shore, guards leaped out and were surrounding Aerity within seconds, gently lifting her, wrapping her in a blanket. And then her cousin’s beautiful face, flushed with splotches of cream and rose.

“Did they catch Rozaria?” Aerity asked.

“Aer . . . she’s gone. That Rocato woman somehow knocked out Vixie and fled—”

“Knocked her out?” Aerity shouted in fury, grabbing her chest.

“How badly is she hurt?” Tiern asked, jumping to his feet at the mention of Vixie.

“She’s fine,” Wyneth quickly amended. Aerity nearly collapsed into her cousin’s arms. “Vixie’s safe, and they’ll catch that woman. Everything will be all right. In time, it truly will.”

“I should have been there,” came a low voice beside them. Harrison was still staring at Lief.

“Harrison.” Aerity touched his arm. He turned to her, and his eyes cleared.

“You shouldn’t be walking, Aer.” He bent and gently lifted her into his arms, cradling her. Under his breath he asked, “Where is Paxton?”

“He’s gone,” she whispered back.

“I’m sorry.”

Aerity pressed her face into his shoulder.

“Let’s get the princess back to the castle,” ordered a guard.

“We’ll be at the boat in a moment,” Aerity told him. “Wait for us there.” The guard left as the Zandalee jogged over. Zandora’s eyes scanned Tiern from top to bottom.

“Your brother is gone?”

He nodded, looked down. Zandora crouched at his side. “Whose blood covers you, Tiern Seabolt, if you did not slay the beast?”

His mouth opened, then shut as he stared at her. His eyes lifted, searching, as he turned toward Harrison, Aerity, and Wyneth. He shook his head.

“Wade into the water,” Zandora told him. “Wash as much of your blood away as you can before the men notice.”

She knows. Aerity’s heart rate picked up speed. Tiern obeyed, moving out to the water to wash. Zandora turned and bowed her head at Aerity. The other two Zandalee did the same.

“It was an honor to serve your kingdom. Now we must go.”

Aerity nodded, realizing the hunt was truly over. “Thank you,” she said quietly.

“What’s going on?” Harrison asked. He watched Tiern washing in the water. Wyneth met Aerity’s eyes and nodded. They could trust their old friend.

“The beast nearly killed Tiern. But Paxton . . . he’s Lashed. He saved Tiern, and Lief took the kill.”

Harrison’s arms slackened, and Aerity yelped as she felt herself slip. He quickly flexed and lifted her again. “Sorry . . . I just . . . deep seas. I had no idea.” He kissed the top of Aerity’s head, and she pressed her face into his shoulder.

A sense of finality lay inside her. It was over. Paxton was gone. She would marry a man who felt more for her cousin than he did for her, a man who cared more for his glory than anything else. And possibly worst of all, a madwoman was on the loose again.

“Take me to the boat,” Aerity whispered. Harrison obliged.